Improvement in life-preserving trunks



l L. REBSTOCK. Improvement in Life-Preserving Trunks.

N0. 114,475. Patented May 2,1871.

UNITED STATEs PATENT OEEIoE.

LAWRENCE REBSTOGK, OF HOLLIDAYSBUEG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN LIFE-PRESERVING TRUNKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 114,475, dated May '2, 1871.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE REBsTooK, of Hollidaysburg, in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Life-Preserving Trunk; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the saine, reference being had to the accompanying draw ing, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a top view with the lids and wings of the trunk open. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the trunk when closed, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same.

This invention relates to a trunk so constructed that it may be converted at pleasure into a boat, and thus serve as a life-preserver in cases of shipwreck.

Referring to the drawing, a is a trunk. b I) are the lids of the saine, said lids being hinged at the ends ofthe trunk instead of at its side, as is usually the case, each lid being half the length of the trunk, so as to meet its fellow at the center of the trunk when the lids are folded together. When the lids are thrown open they form extensions at each end of the trunk, which extensions are held inclined a little upward from the trunk by means of wedges c, that are secured to each end ofthe trunk, and prevent the lids from turning down horizontally.

Vin gs cl d are hin ged to the tops of the sides of the trunk, and are of the same len gt-h therewith, which wings have triangular iaps e hinged to their ends. The iaps e of each wing may be turned against one side of the latter, andthe wings, with the `iaps thus disposed of, can be folded against the inner sides of the trunk, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to be entirely out of the way. When turned outward the wings form extensions at the sides of the trunk, which are held inclined upward to a suitable extent by means of wedges f. The flaps e have buttons t' attached to them, which buttons, when turned into recesses made in the sides of the lids b, serve to connect the wings and lids together. These extensions, when turned out, convert the trunk into a boat.

In the ends of the lids recesses m are cut to enable the lids to shut down over the wings d when the latter are folded inside the trunk.

A ring, g, is secured to the inside of the bottom of the trunk, to which ring a rope, h, is attached having a hook at its other end, this rope and ring being useful in fastening and mooring the boat.

A socket, Z, is fastened to the bottom of the trunk, in which socket may be stepped a rod, 0, made in two or more sections, and provided with sliding ferrules, so that it may either be folded inside the trunk or converted into a mast for the boat.

The lids are to be lined with india-rubber, so as to be watertight.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. rI he combination of the trunk a, lids b, wings d, and flaps e, as specied.

2. The combination of the trunk a, socket l, and jointed rod 0, as described,

LAVRENGE EEBSTOCK.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN REED, J AooB WETZ, .IA D. LEETe 

